House Ethics Panel Probes Rep. Tony Gonzales After He Admits Affair
Ethics panel opened an investigation after Rep. Tony Gonzales acknowledged an affair with a staffer who died by suicide in September.
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Overview
The House Ethics Committee announced it opened an investigation into Rep. Tony Gonzales, and Gonzales acknowledged on Wednesday that he had an affair with a former aide.
The alleged affair involved staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in September, and sexual texts exchanged in 2024 were reported and verified by her widower, Adrian Aviles.
Committee leaders said the investigative subcommittee will determine whether Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct or favoritism, and Gonzales said he welcomes the opportunity to present all facts to the committee.
Gonzales failed to earn 50% in the primary and was forced into a May 26 runoff against Republican Brandon Herrera.
The Ethics Committee must address the Office of Congressional Conduct report within 45 days but may delay it if it falls inside the 60-day pre-election window, and the probe could stop if Gonzales leaves office.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the story neutrally: they attribute allegations to the House Ethics Committee and the San Antonio Express-News, include Gonzales' denial and a committee joint statement, and note the AP has not independently verified texts. The coverage balances official statements and reported claims without loaded language or obvious omission of major viewpoints.
FAQ
The House Ethics Committee is investigating whether Rep. Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct or favoritism toward Regina Santos-Aviles, his former regional district director[1][2]. The investigation focuses on text messages from May 2024 in which Gonzales repeatedly requested explicit photos from Santos-Aviles, and a 26% salary increase she received in 2024, the same year the alleged affair occurred.
Regina Santos-Aviles, 35, died by suicide on September 14, 2025, after setting herself on fire outside her home in Uvalde, Texas[1][2]. An autopsy report found she had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.094%, which is legally intoxicated[1]. She died one day after the incident[1].
The affair was discovered by Regina Santos-Aviles' husband, Adrian Aviles, who found explicit text messages between his wife and Gonzales on her phone in June 2024[3][4]. Aviles then sent a text message to Gonzales and several of his office staffers from Regina's phone, disclosing the affair[4]. The text messages were later obtained and reported by news outlets including ABC News and CBS News in February 2026.
The House Ethics Committee's investigative subcommittee must address the Office of Congressional Conduct report within 45 days, though this deadline may be delayed if it falls within the 60-day pre-election window[1]. The investigation could be terminated if Gonzales leaves office[1]. Gonzales is currently facing a May 26 runoff election after failing to earn 50% support in the primary[1].
Yes, Rep. Gonzales acknowledged on Wednesday that he had an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles and stated he welcomes the opportunity to present all facts to the Ethics Committee[1]. However, Gonzales has also called for the Uvalde police department to release its report on Santos-Aviles' death despite objections from her family[5].
